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Sitting on the boulevard between Avenues 50 and 51, The York is Highland Park’s newest hip spot. Those who remember The Wild Hare will be hard pressed to recognize anything from the dingy old dive that once resided here. Walls and ceilings have been torn out to open the space to exposed brick and wooden rafters. Dim, Victorian double-loop carbon filament bulbs light up the bar and surrounding tables, while burlap covers the benches in the booths. All the while, black and white French noir films play silently above the heavily mixed crowd. Hipsters, cholos, yuppies, teamsters, even celebraties frequent the York on a regular basis, keeping it busy every night of the week.

Behind the bar, a friendly and expert staff keeps the stiff cocktails and expansive microbrews flowing. The York offers over a dozen quality beers on tap (no Budweiser, thank you very much), some from local breweries like Pasadena’s Craftsman, to other well known imports from across the pond, such as Guiness and Newcastle. Under the counter they stock a good selection of bottles, like Rogue Dead Guy to Chimay. And for those that simply must partake in the macrobrews, you can find Bud and Miller in bottles as well. And while The York is a pub, they do offer a fully stocked bar that includes all the standards, plus many more rare and hard-to-find liquors too. Hendricks Gin is a must for any martini lover. Additionally, The York also offers a wide selection of decent wines too. Finally, not to be overlooked is the food. Chalkboard menus list large and small plates, consisting of Fish & Chips (where you’ll find delicious, fresh, crispy, homemade chips–not fries), Truffled Grilled Cheese and many, many more fantastic dishes. For a restaurant the food would be considered great, for a bar, the food is simply amazing.

And while the food deserves much more praise and detail, ultimately what makes The York so special is the combination of everything above. The atmosphere is unique. It’s a special night out, while homey and comfortable too. It’s cool, but not too-cool. It’s the West Side without the West Side. It’s the hot girl who doesn’t know she’s hot. No attitude, no presumptions, no stigmas.

With places like The York opening up all along York Blvd, it’s clear that Highland Park is pushing past up-and-coming to up-and-come. This is why we love North East L.A.